Log Chute
Encyclopedia
Log Chute is a log flume
attraction located in Nickelodeon Universe in the Mall of America
. It has been open since the Mall of America debuted in 1992. The majority of the ride takes place inside a landscaped cave/mine. It has two lift hill
s and two drops. The vehicles of this flume are designed to spray water away from the boats, only misting the riders, as the attraction is indoors. It is one of the most popular rides at the park. During the re-theming of the park, Nickelodeon decided against re-theming the ride.
The ride is based on the story of Paul Bunyan
and Babe the Blue Ox, as well as on the general theme of American
colonialism
and logging
. It begins in a large cave in which the first lift hill is located. After ascending the hill, the logs float through alternating short open-air and tunnel sections. The logs then re-enter the main cave, dropping out of it in the first drop shortly after. The riders then enter a large cave with huge, animated statues of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox, before ascending to the ride's highest point (one of the highest spots in the park) and dropping down the larger of the two drops.
Everywhere down in Lumberville, born to every Jack and Jill. You will hear the mighty call of a man named Paul. He's the biggest lumberjack of all.
Yo ho! Look out below. With the whack of an axe it falls. Yo ho! Look out below, when you hear them call, "Timber!"
On November 4, 2007, a conveyor belt malfunctioned, causing one log-themed boat to crash into another. There were only minor injuries. The ride was inspected and fixed. The ride reopened on November 15, 2007.
Log flume (attraction)
Log flumes originally referred to a special construct used to transport lumber and logs down mountainous terrain to a sawmill by using flowing water. Today, however, the term is also used to refer to an amusement ride consisting of a water flume and artificial hollow logs or boats...
attraction located in Nickelodeon Universe in the Mall of America
Mall of America
The Mall of America, also called MOA and the Megamall, is a shopping mall located in Bloomington, Minnesota, a suburb of the Twin Cities, in the United States. It is located southeast of the junction of Interstate 494 and Minnesota State Highway 77, north of the Minnesota River and is across the...
. It has been open since the Mall of America debuted in 1992. The majority of the ride takes place inside a landscaped cave/mine. It has two lift hill
Lift hill
A lift hill, or chain hill, is often the initial upward-sloping section of track on a typical roller coaster that initially transports the roller coaster train to an elevated point or peak in the roller coaster ride...
s and two drops. The vehicles of this flume are designed to spray water away from the boats, only misting the riders, as the attraction is indoors. It is one of the most popular rides at the park. During the re-theming of the park, Nickelodeon decided against re-theming the ride.
The ride is based on the story of Paul Bunyan
Paul Bunyan
Paul Bunyan is a lumberjack figure in North American folklore and tradition. One of the most famous and popular North American folklore heroes, he is usually described as a giant as well as a lumberjack of unusual skill, and is often accompanied in stories by his animal companion, Babe the Blue...
and Babe the Blue Ox, as well as on the general theme of American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
colonialism
Colonialism
Colonialism is the establishment, maintenance, acquisition and expansion of colonies in one territory by people from another territory. It is a process whereby the metropole claims sovereignty over the colony and the social structure, government, and economics of the colony are changed by...
and logging
Logging
Logging is the cutting, skidding, on-site processing, and loading of trees or logs onto trucks.In forestry, the term logging is sometimes used in a narrow sense concerning the logistics of moving wood from the stump to somewhere outside the forest, usually a sawmill or a lumber yard...
. It begins in a large cave in which the first lift hill is located. After ascending the hill, the logs float through alternating short open-air and tunnel sections. The logs then re-enter the main cave, dropping out of it in the first drop shortly after. The riders then enter a large cave with huge, animated statues of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox, before ascending to the ride's highest point (one of the highest spots in the park) and dropping down the larger of the two drops.
The Song
At various points throughout the ride a theme song can be heard. It has a catchy melody and words that seem to tell a story of a legendary historical figure, presumably Paul Bunyan. The words to the song are as follows:Everywhere down in Lumberville, born to every Jack and Jill. You will hear the mighty call of a man named Paul. He's the biggest lumberjack of all.
Yo ho! Look out below. With the whack of an axe it falls. Yo ho! Look out below, when you hear them call, "Timber!"
Accidents
On Saturday, August 1, 1998, a 12-year-old boy fell off the log chute. As his log-themed boat neared the top of the chute, the boy began to panic and stood up to reach a railing. The ride was stopped, but the boat began to fall. Losing his grip, he fell off the chute, falling onto the landscaping rocks. O.D. Hopkins Associates, Inc., the manufacturer of the ride, inspected it and found that the ride was in proper working order. The boy died from the injuries received after falling off the chute. It was the park's (then Camp Snoopy) first major accident.On November 4, 2007, a conveyor belt malfunctioned, causing one log-themed boat to crash into another. There were only minor injuries. The ride was inspected and fixed. The ride reopened on November 15, 2007.